If Given the Chance, Lyoto Machida Wants to Fight at 185 in the UFC

Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida says he can make the 185-pound division and wants to fight at middleweight at some point during his UFC tenure.

The former light heavyweight champion will not fight his friend and training partner, middleweight titleholder Anderson Silva, but wants to challenge himself in the lighter weight class and says the UFC can pick his opponent.

“Maybe I can fight in both classes. Everybody saw that I drink water before I get on the scale,” Machida said during the UFC 157 open workouts on Wednesday. “If I have the chance, I want to fight at 185 in the UFC.

“Not a title shot. The champion is my friend, Anderson Silva. He’s the number one pound-for-pound in the world, but I can do a couple of challenges,” he said. “The UFC can choose for me.”

Machida (18-3) has fought his entire career at light heavyweight or higher. There are some that are skeptical whether he can make the cut. He was walking around between 210 and 212 pounds on Wednesday, but Machida plans to prove the critics wrong.

“I can and I’m going to show them,” He said.

Machida takes on Dan Henderson in the co-main event at UFC 157: Rousey vs. Carmouche on Saturday. A win could put him in line for a title shot in the light heavyweight division.